Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus hand infections in an urban setting.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection appears to be increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively the incidence of MRSA in community-associated hand infections in an urban hospital.

METHODS: Sixty-one patients presented to our institution over a 9-month period with community-acquired hand infections that were evaluated and treated by the hand service. The specimens obtained during the initial evaluation and treatment were cultured and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing. Four nosocomial infections and 5 fight bites were excluded.

RESULTS: Of the remaining 52 patients, 38 (73.1%) were MRSA positive.

CONCLUSIONS: The rate of community-associated MRSA hand infections in an urban setting is higher than previously suspected. This should be taken into account when managing seemingly routine hand infections given that the treatment options are different for MRSA infections.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.